Video Games Live Announces June 3 Festival and Performances in Philadelphia

Video game composers Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall announced pre- and post-show festival events planned for the Philadelphia performance of Video Games Live on Saturday, June 3, presented at the Merriam Theater by Wizard World.

Created and produced by Tallarico and Wall’s production company, Mystical Stone Entertainment, Video Games Live features music from the most popular video games performed by top orchestras and choirs from around the world. The performances combine exclusive video footage and music arrangements, synchronized lighting, solo performances, electronic percussionists and interactive segments. A trailer from the sold-out San Jose, Calif. performance can be viewed at www.videogameslive.com/trailer/vglsanjose2006.wmv.

To commemorate the event, Video Games Live is presenting a pre-show festival from 7 to 8 p.m. that is free to all ticket holders. Tickets range from $25 to $65 and are on sale now at all Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling 215/336-2000. Tickets can also be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com.

The pre-show festival will include a competition sponsored by RedOctane featuring Guitar Hero (song to be announced at the show). The contestant with the highest score will receive a limited edition Guitar Hero controller and skateboard signed by video game composers and designers. Other pre-show festivities include a costume contest presented by 1UP.com, where audience members will come dressed as their favorite video game characters to compete for prizes. Finalists will be judged onstage by the audience.

Other prizes include a $2,500 Ferrari laptop courtesy of AMD, which will be given away onstage during the Interactive Symphony segment, starring Frogger, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Two audience members will compete for 90 seconds while the orchestra plays along, changing the musical score on-the-fly depending on what the contestants are doing on screen.

Pianist Martin Leung, best known as “The Video Game Pianist” (formerly “The Blindfolded Pianist”), will perform more than 10 Final Fantasy favorites. Guitar Hero guitarist Marcus Henderson will perform a “Guitar Hero medley.”

Other festival locations currently on sale include Houston, Chicago, Indianapolis, Toronto and Los Angeles (Hollywood Bowl). For more information and a complete list of tour dates, go to www.videogameslive.com.